Google has launched a tool that allows users to tailor their searches to the
websites and blogs they are most interested in.
Google Custom Search Engine can be
focused on any content the user likes, how this should be prioritised, whether
others can contribute to their index, and what the search results page will look
like.
People can even create search engines pointing their friends to sites about
their favorite pop stars and place them on their personal homepages.
A number of sites have already used the tool to create their own custom
search engines. For example,
Real Climate, a site that offers expert opinion on the
science of climate change is using it to point visitors to other sites it says
provide reliable scientific information.
These subsets of pages on the internet have been validated by Real Climate
and include government labs, research institutes as well as Real Climate
research.
The website owners said: "As we get used to this service, we will be adding
sites and pages that we feel are up to the mark. Suggestions for sites we might
not yet have found or have overlooked, will of course be welcome."
Users can also specify whether or not the tool can be used to generate some
income by using the
Google
Adsense program to generate advertisements from search terms.
Advertisers pay Google every time someone clicks on these adverts and, in
return, people who incorporate Adsense on their custom search engines will also
receive a portion of the amount paid to Google.
"We want to make it easy for anyone to create a search engine about all their
favorite topics, without needing a PhD," said Marissa Mayer, Google's vice
-president of search products and user experience.
"Everyone can harness the power of Google technology to create a personalised
search experience that reflects specific knowledge and interests."
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